I cant stop smiling. Thrice as nice. That’s how I feel as I write this review. “The Village shop” (TVS) is a charming family run café (I have a big fat soft corner for family-runs and the home spun quality of their food).

Exciting times. I continue to research (read eat) my way for our very own Times Food Guide. I eat at Kala Ghoda’s brand new modern Indian “Hitchki”, and get to know about meatilicious “Boston Butt” there from Micky and Jay Dalal. From dining at well-know TV chefs (Vicky Ratnani’s The Korner House and Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria) to “Ministry of Salads” in Warden Road, BAD café in Bandra , Goila’s butter chicken in Andheri and a rocking night out at “Play the lounge” I do it all. Chef Himanshu Taneja of JW Marriott’s superb Pan Asian Dashanzi to Mahindra’s healthful “Saboro” in Churchgate. I dine in Iconic old retaurants which have got new chefs ( Chef Francesco Francavilla delights in Vetro as do Chef Rohit Chadha and his expat chefs in Golden Dragan, Yet to dine at Chef Xi Xi Ling’s Mekong) Chef Alessandro Persico’s Celini is as good as ever. I check out Udippan Chakravorty, Ananda Solomon’s successor’s “Thai Pavilion” and “Trattoria”. As a policy I do not accept preview invites and dine only after the restaurant has opened to the public. There are several such, about-to-open, including Aditi Dugar, chef Pratik Sidhu’s “Masque” (Mahalaxmi) which has interiors by Ashiesh Shah and has been making waves even before opening. Exciting times ahead.

P.S. A REQUEST Should you have dined at any brand new restaurants, please do share with me (Instagram, twitter @rashmiudaysingh, emailrashmiudaysingh2017@gmail.com)

Sure dining at restaurants is exciting but tracking professional home chefs has been my overriding passion for the past three decades.And I continue to do this in Mumbai and Chennai. Are you a professional home chef ? Do you conduct any foodie services out of home? Then what you are holding in your hands is an open invitation to be part of our next #whatshottastingsession and of the Times Food guide. All you need to do is send us details about your work and contact details instagram, twitter @rashmiudaysingh rashmiudaysingh2017@gmail.com

Please excuse me if I’m getting carried away. I can’t contain my excitement at discovering Mumbai’s talented home chefs. And this #Whatshottastingsession is organised specifically for our very own “Times Food guide 2017” which is being readied for going to press. On a rained out evening, we meet (fittingly enough) at the city’s landmark, iconic sixty year old Gaylord and the ever gracious AN Malhotra plays host to Mumbai’s most talented taste-magicians. I’m grateful to the ever helpful team at Gaylord and also to the home chefs who’ve come all the way from Thane, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Mira Road…Im so happy. Cant stop smiling.

Party time? How about a variety of sinful dessert dips like Cookie dough dip, Nutella Caramel Cheesecake dip and more ? .yum Golden Addictive hotseller (roasted almond n caramel popcorn clusters with a hint of salted caramel)? Amna Shehzad Furniturewala makes all this and more.

Through The Food Door | Thane | 9987090418

Mani Vinaik’s ‘Chocolaticious’ Brownies, boozy bakes and coloured ganache have a fan following. Try her decadent Cream Cheese Pound Cake. This expert at catering for kiddie parties; is also known for themed cupcakes and Lasagne.

This food delivery service by youngsters from the corporate world ( Alok Shah, Chirag Arya, Varun Ahuja and Anuj Bagri) serves it all… Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Try the Biryani, Chicken Kalimiti and the range of Wow Paws.

Found. Home made and fabulous my favorite Mulgapudi Gunpowder, Sambar Powder, Rassam Powder and the softest idlis. A teacher, marathon runner and social entrepreneur,Geetha Shridhar has been featured in many cookery shows for her famed BisiBele Bhath.

We’re rejoicing! Is Fun getting Farzi-fied? Or Farzi getting fun-fied? Is Indian food getting a global makeover or is it the other way round? Whichever way you look at it Farzi, Zorawar Kalra’s high-energy Modern Indian bistro is magnetising a huge number of fans…Gurgaon, Dubai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.

I fell in love with Shamiana, the colorful rockstar, and I vividly remember that evening. It was my very first day in romantic rainy, beautiful Bombay, 14th July 1974. And on that day itself, Shamiana was the very first restaurant I dined in. Having majored in Literature honors in Delhi university, I had come to Bombay to study journalism and train under Patanjali Sethi in The Times of India. I ate at Shamiana regularly. I returned to Delhi. Only to come back in 1980 ( as Income tax commissioner) and once again thanks to my mother in law Mohini Bhullar, editorial director of the only city magazine, sipped and supped here regularly.. Celebrated many a sentimental occasion here. From 2000 onwards, moaned and criticized it’s decor and food and relocating to the pool side location. But now, Shamiana is back to where my love affair started….and I am rejoicing!

Whoa! It’s the reincarnation of nostalgia. Its no mere revamp of menu, decor and relocation of The Taj Mahal Palace hotel’s 24 hour dining restaurant. Shamiana, India’s first ever coffee shop opened it’s doors in 1973 and was fiercely beloved and constantly mobbed.